Shortly after the brand new league 12 months started on Wednesday afternoon, the Bucs misplaced one in every of their key particular teamers, because the Vikings introduced they’ve agreed to phrases with Tavierre Thomas, who spent the 2024 season with Tampa Bay.
Thomas Helped Enhance Bucs Particular Groups In 2024
Bucs DB Tavierre Thomas – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucs had lengthy underperformed on particular groups. Per Professional Soccer Focus, the crew ranked twentieth or worse of their particular groups grading from 2019-2023. This was regardless of some very spectacular kicking seasons by each Ryan Succop and Chase McLaughlin.
Thomas was part of a push to enhance this aspect of the sport. And enhance they did. The crew ranked nineteenth total in PFF grade, which was their greatest exhibiting since 2015.
And Thomas introduced the products, incomes a 90.5 grade from PFF. He led the crew in particular groups snaps with 403 and tackles with eight. His 11.1% missed sort out price was fairly spectacular as properly. Thomas contributed in 5 of the six sides of particular groups, together with kick return, kick protection, punt return, punt protection and subject objective block.
Bucs DB Tavierre Thomas and RB Bucky Irving – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
He was particularly glorious as a gunner, typically the primary participant down subject and barely overrunning the play.
He was additionally a minor contributor on protection as a myriad of accidents compelled the Bucs to go deep into their depth chart. Thomas, who had primarily performed slot nook all through his earlier six seasons with Cleveland and Houston, performed 46 defensive snaps break up virtually evenly between the slot and security.
Thomas’ play on protection, like lots of the Bucs depth gamers within the secondary, left a lot to be desired. He missed two of his 9 sort out makes an attempt and allowed a catch on all 5 of the throws he was focused on, permitting 67 yards together with 28 after the catch.
Thomas completed the 2024 season with 14 whole tackles in 17 video games. For his profession, he has 239 tackles, six tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks, six passes defensed, two interceptions, six compelled fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
